Southern Bavaria tradition is that the youngest son gets the farm, it has been
that way, in my family, the Nigls since we have been in the

Bischofsreut area.

I know that this tradition seems contrary to everything we know about

Inheritance in the Western World, but in this area, it seems to have been the
tradition, that the youngest son, and if no sons, the youngest daughter gets
the farm.

I think it had something to do with the large families, most of
the older children, probably could not wait until their parents had
died, and had to make their own way, before that happened.

It would be interesting to hear from other Highholders to see if
this

tradition has been carried forward among other families.

Charles Nigl

Also, I have learned the following from Manfred Niegl, a
distant cousin who lives in Regensberg Germany, ( he was born in Schattawa).

Today in Bavaria, all laws have been codified to
conform with the laws of the German state, therefore, Inheritance, with a will,
the courts follow the legal will to the letter.

Without a will, all the children share equally, unless they
agree otherwise.

In Old Bavarian Law, it worked somewhat
differently. When the parents reached an age, when they could no longer
work the farm. They would go to a Notary court official) and sign a document
turning the farm over to one of the children. In the majority of cases this was
the youngest child, ( exception, only one child) if the youngest child was not
mature enough to work a farm, the farm went to the next youngest, and so forth.
All children of the family had to sign this document, or it would not be
honored. It seems the most important factor, is that the farm remains within the
Family, and is not broken up and sold off to make sure all siblings get a share.
It appears that much pressure would have been exerted by the parents to have
their wishes respected, and that eventually all the children would sign the
document.

If the parents both died, and there was no Document
on record, as to who would inherit the farm, the Court would make this
determination.

PS, When I look at my Family tree, it has always been
the

youngest son, who inherited the Farm, this is in direct
violation of

the law of Primogeniture ( eldest son inherits)

I would be interested in your thoughts on this matter.

Reminiscences

My Name is Jim
Lekovich and I grew up at 928 Bismarck Ave. My family owned the house (my
mother was born there) from the early 1900's until we sold it around 1998.
My mother was Eleanor Gams Lekovich who died in 1989. I attended kindergarten at
South Park and then went to Sacred Heart through 8th grade. In the 60's I had
the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern paper route on Bismarck, 5th and 6th street from
Knapp Street to Morgan's. I enjoyed your pictures of the neighbor hood grocery
stores and can remember stopping at Berger's, Paulick's and Sheeny's while
pedaling papers. We lived a block from the Hi-Holder and I ate many 10 cent
hamburgers and 5 cent fresh strawberry ice cream cones there.

In the 50's every Friday my Grandfather Rudolf Gams
would give me a quarter and I would go to the Stadium bar for a bucket of beer,
10 cents to get a bag of cigar clippings at Reichenbergers, 10 cents for fresh
pork rinds at Bloechels (across the street from Berger's) and then a nickel to
get an ice cream cone at the High Holder.

I find you
website very interesting and look forward to hearing from you.Jim Lekovichjlekovich@hotwater.com